Gem family trips you can take in New Zealand…

Yeah , yeah ,yeah all the locals in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney head to their favourite Nth American Ski resort come the onset of Xmas..Nope not us we headed to the Central North Island of New Zealand to get active and visit some family. Most people seem unawares outside of NZ that there are many viable alternatives to holidays outside of the very popular Queenstown/Wanaka area. The John Key elected government in NZ decided in their wisdom and with some sage advice around quick and easy victories to pump money into cycle tourism. The Central Otago Rail Trail had been established in the early noughties and has been very successful , that is an old railway disused post the Roger Douglas rationalisation sold off the rail assets and rendered these marginal lines uneconomical.

Our original plan was to cycle a trail called the Mangapurua track which tracks from close to Raetihi to the Mangaparua landing which is in a remote stretch of the Whanganui river. Alas the weather turned gnarly and the cycle guide recommended we not do this particular track due to the extreme mud that can make the journey most unenjoyable for the kids in particular. With a change of plan we were advised to ride the Ohakune Old Coach Road track which starts at a place called Horopito close to “Smash Palace” scene of the famous 1980's Kiwi cult movie Smash Palace by Roger Donaldson. The MTB trail is glorious traversing through native rimu forests and riding along the historic cobblestone coach road and is a journey back in time.Taking in several old rail viaducts and lots of history of a time when pioneers sought anyway they could to push North pre the construction of the main trunk rail line.It took me back to Kiwi childhood memories spent on farms in the area and in native bush the utter lushness of it and its total safety from any critters. In contrast to Australia where we currently live where the sheer amount of critters in the outdoors is a real concern. Not that it stops us as living in a big city one needs to get breathers in the nature be it wild beaches or bush camping!

2–3 hours total cycle with my wife and 3 kids was a real tonic and in a short time this cycle trail has fast become a real popular one and in our 2 week sojourn to NZ I was struck by the abundance of new cycle trails that have popped up everywhere in the last few years. The Timber Trail, Mountains to Sea just to name a few and it seemed like everywhere we went a new trail has been opened up with the corresponding tourism infrastructure built around it popping up the local economies.

I left with a stash of brochures ready to plan the next sojourn. I cannot recommend these highly enough for families such a cool way to check out some native NZ forest,get some exercise and get these kids off their devices..and the odd adult also hehe

Another very cool trip we did was to canoe down the Whanganui river from the Mangapurua landing(Bridge to Nowhere) to Pipiriki some 32 kms downriver navigating several rapids, getting some real Kiwi culture via a powhiri and seeing where my wife’s families ancestors came from. After being whisked up the river with my wife’s parents and our family to go visit the bridge to nowhere we were a little expectant as to how it would exactly be in a canoe navigating the river with 3 kids and a tent.

The gentle flow from the bridge to nowhere down to the Tieke Kainga hit which we were to camp at that evening made for a pleasurable paddle. We stopped midway and had a lovely swim in the glorious Whanganui and once again marveled about the total absence of dangerous critters in NZ that could harm us . The Kiwi cultural explosion that my kids received who have lived most of their lives in the very sheltered ,predominantly mono-cultural white only bastion of the eastern suburbs of Sydney was very cool. Hakas , Maoritanga and history abounded. The powhiri or welcome to a marae is a unique process that has 3 parts to it . Firstly the speech about where you are from what brings you here. Secondly the Waiata or song relevant to you and thirdly the koha or offering to the tribe. We listened to a whole heap of powhiri’s and learnt a few things or two.

The next day we managed to run a few rapids, stay in our canoes and have alot of fun. We also managed to chillax in our canoes let ourselves glide down the Whanganui river and soak up the magnificent scenery. I could imagine the Maori wakas (canoes) cruising up and down the river 170 years ago,or being lowered down to the river form the dense native forest canopy above to surprise the unsuspecting British invaders.This was such a great trip taking in alot of history ,both local,NZ and my wife’s family history. Her family had settled up the Whanganui in a very remote place that only had river access ,tough pioneers these guys. No Ipad’s,Netflix or sushi for them.

I cant wait to come back another time and would highly recommend this to anyone. A real Kiwi adventure and a must do if you are in the region.